SB Nation Houston Editor's Pick

WWBHD? Draft DDJ

by Shamus on Apr 17, 2011 4:05 PM CDT

This is simply my breakdown of the skills possessed by Delino Deshields Jr. It is all IMHO.

Delino Deshields Jr is 5'8"-9" and 175-190lbs depending on the source. He always has plus-plus speed , good range in the outfield, and pedigree. After this the information out on DDJ differs by opinion. Here are some of the other pros for DDJ. His hands are soft enough to play 2nd base. His swing is short to the ball possessing gap-power. Some of the cons on DDJ. His arm is below average. There are questions about power development and effort.

There is almost no video on DDJ but this is what Heck looked like when they drafted him.

http://houston.astros.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=8778219

My limited evaluation of DDJ gives me concern in every aspect of the game but outfield range and hit avg. The main reason for this is contrary to what you would expect, physical tools. IMO DDJ does not have the hip mobility or arm to succeed at the MLB level. In the field I suspect his ability to have range enough to play 2nd because of his hips and from the throws I have seen his arm is poor at 2nd and at all other positions. At the plate I do like that his swing is short to the ball. But it is a swing that does not incorporate his hips. I have not seen enough swings to see much more but for these purposes I will assume that he will have trouble with balls inside and lack HR pop. I can not make judgment on plate discipline.

So my thoughts have not changed much since the draft. DDJ is a CFer with good range and a poor arm. I doubt that he projects to an adequate 2nd baseman. At the plate DDJ may have good contact skills if he is able to get to the inside pitch. I doubt he will develop power. I do not like his swing overall.

His main problem is lack of hip mobility and poor to very poor arm. I only saw one place that questioned his effort and I really don't care about a DUI. Young men will make mistakes and learn from them. Let us all hope that I am wrong but when I see DDJ I see a running back that is out of place in a baseball uniform.

Poll

What is DDJ's future?

Future all-star

12 votes

Future regular

28 votes

Future bench player

3 votes

Breaks into the majors

4 votes

Bust

9 votes

56 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 3 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

What do you mean by “hip mobility” and how have you evaluated it? Most of the stuff I have read online over the past year has been mostly positive.

I would like him to be a future Biggio, but I would be perfectly happy if he turned into his father. He’s already ahead of Biggio because Biggio didn’t get his DUI until he was well into his major league career.

I would have perfered a power bat from the draft, but I see what the Astros like about DeShields. It seems like the Astros really like this type of fast player. It’s not the way I’d go. But it’s too early for me to say that they are wrong.

by ntn on Apr 17, 2011 8:17 PM CDT reply actions

Interesting on the hip mobility. I haven’t really had a chance to seem him play, but I’m surprised by that. If he was ticketed to play running back for LSU, I would have assumed that he’d have a good level of fluidity in his hip movements. Maybe it doesn’t translate the same. Depending on his ability to stick at second base, I don’t know if the arm strength will come into play as much. His arm has been rated as average on any of the scouting reports I’ve read.The kid is still only 18 so it will be a while before we can make a definitive judgment.

by MadMartygan on Apr 17, 2011 8:27 PM CDT reply actions

Second base is a good position for an athletic player with sub-par arm strength, e.g., Craig Biggio and Chris Burke. I have seen DDJ’s arm described as either average or below average, depending on the scouting report. But all of the reports indicate that the arm is acceptable for either 2d base or CF.

As always, we will have to wait a few years to find out if the optimists or pessimists are right about DDJ.

by clack on Apr 18, 2011 7:10 AM CDT up reply actions

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